Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45,548, Abel Gage, Continental (N.H.)

SERVICE
NUMBER
continental (W.H.)
Gage, Abel
S. 45,548
CONTENTS

14. 850 to Collection New Hampshire.
Abel Gage
of Pelham in the state of New Hampshire who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Stark of the New Hampshire line, for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the Roll of New Hampshire at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 15 th of May, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st of Sept r 1819 and sent to Samuel Bell Esq r Chester, S.C.
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1819. 15 mos. 17/31/4. 125.59 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 th March 1820. 48.00
$173:59
{ Revolutionary claim, Act 18th March, 1818. }
Discontinued R
Trans. - Apr 24 '37 Transf d to Concord fr. Portsmouth N.H. fr. 4 th Sept r 36 - May 2-1837

Abel Gage New Hampshire Colt Stark March 1776 - 19 yrs
Admitted:
The seal of the Court & Clerk's certificate of the Official character of the Judge is wanting -
The certificate of admitted circumstances of applicant is interlined, with a note be- ing made of it -

at 21 STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Rockingham ss.)
ON this fifteenth day of May 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of Judicature of said State personally appears Abel Gage of Pelham in said County and State aged sixty two years, resident in Pelham in the said State, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he the said Abel enlisted in the beginning of March AD 1776 in the State of in the company commanded by Captain John Hale of the regiments commanded by Col. John Stark in the New Hampshire line in the Continental army ; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States, until the last of December in the same year , when he was discharged from service in Ticonderoga State of New York ; that he was in the battles of and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for ; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services. except the accompanying affidavits of Brook Howard Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Bell Also: Jas: Sup: cur. Judic: N.H.:
I, Samuel Bell Judge of the Superior Courts of Judicature of the State of New Hampshire as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Abel Gage for nine months at one time on the Continental establishments did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the com- mon enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
May 15. 1818
Samuel Bell Also: Jas: Sup: cur. Judic: N.H.:
The words and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support were interlined by me before subscribed my name to the above certificate
Sept 4. 1819
Samuel Bell

I Frederic French clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature of the State of New-Hampshire for the county of Hillsborough certify that on the day of the date of the within appli- cation Samuel Bell within named was one of the Judges of the Superior Court aforesaid & that the name Samuel Bell subscribed in two several places places thereon is the hand writing of the said Samuel Bell In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty sixth day of August A.D. 1819 —
French

No 14850 Abel Gage
Not Ent'd
21 Sep 1819

District of New Hampshire ss
On this 20 th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a court of record by the laws of the United States holden by John S. Sherburne Judge of said District Abel Gage being aged sixty five years resident in Pelham County of Rockingham in said District who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows. viz - I Abel Gage do swear that about the first day of January 1776 my brother Asa Gage of S d Pelham enlisted into Capt John Hales company in Col John Stark's regiment for one year then stationed at Winter Hill near Boston in which he did duty two months - that I took his place he being desirous to leave the army - We marched to New London Connecticut then to New York from thence to Canada to a place called Sorel & were driven back by the enemy to Crown Point where we had the small pox - From thence to Mount Independence - About the last of November I was sent to Albany on business for Col. Poor - Lt Col of said Regiment - On my return I met the S d Regiment marching to Albany Col Poor still remaining at Mount Independence or Ticonderoga. When I had finished my business with Col Poor he told me I might go to Albany join the Regiment or go home by N o 4 - I chose the latter & arrived home a few days before the close of 1776 having served nearly ten months, my original declaration is dated May 15. 1818 - Number of my pension Certificate 14850 - And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my property with or any part thereof with an intent so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war passed on the 18 th day of March 1818 & that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to

nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed.
My wife aged sixty six years - Children living with me - Mehitable aged nearly 32 years in poor health & not able to labour - Deborah is in the 25 th year of her age a slender constitution - Abel is in the 22 d year of his age and thinks he ought to have his own earnings.
Abel Gage
Schedule -
I have no real estate $ 1 brass kettle $7.00 - 2 Iron pots $2.00 9.00 1 Iron kettle 0.70 - Tea kettle 70- 1.40 Pewter $3.00 - two spiders 50 cts 3.50 3 Tables $3.00 - Chairs $3.00 - case of draws 2 d 8.00 Crockery & coffee pot $2.00 - Loom &c. $5.00 7.00 Tubs & pails $2. knives & forks $1.00 - Andirons 70 cts 3.70 Fire shovel & tongs $2.00 - linen wheels $2.00 4.00 Woolen wheels $3.00 - 1/2 a pew in M.H. $12 15.00 51.60 due on note $8.00 8.00 Cyder barrels spoons warming pan 12.79 72.39 I am now in debt $200 which expect to pay out of my late pension
Besides necessary clothing & bedding -
Abel Gage
Sworn to & declared the 20 th day of June 1820 before the District Court of the United States held at Exeter in said County of Rockingham in & for said District attest. Peyton R Freeman Clerk
I Peyton R Freeman Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the District of New Hampshire do certify that the foregoing oath & declaration & the schedules thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of said Court. And I further certify that

No 14850 Steel Gage
Not Ent'd
21 Sep 1819

it is the opinion of said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in said schedule is seventy two dollars & thirty nine cents -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 27 th day of June A.D. 1820 -
Peyton R Freeman Clerk

Abel Gay
Portsmouth
to
Concord

State of New Hampshire County of Hillsborough ss.
On this tenth day of April 1837 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hillsborough aforesaid personally appeared Abel Gage, who on his oath declares, that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain John Hale, in Colonel John Stark's Regiment, in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the "Pension list, Roll of the New Hampshire agency," which pension has always been paid in Portsmouth in said State, and those Pensioners who reside in the County of Rockingham still receive their pensions at said Portsmouth. That By an arrangement of the War department, a year or two since, those Pensioners who reside in the County of Hillsborough, and some other counties, were directed to apply at Concord in said State for their Pensions. That he has lately removed from Salem in said County of Rockingham into Pelham in the County of Hillsborough aforesaid, where he now resides, and where he intends to remain, and wishes his Pension to be payable in future at Concord in said State, where all the other Pensioners in the County of Hillsborough receive their Pensions. The following is the reason for his removing from the County of Rockingham into the County of Hillsborough. He sold his little property in Salem aforesaid, and came to reside with his Son in Pelham aforesaid because he supposed it would be advantageous to him.
Abel Gage
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid, Before me, Samuel M. Richardson, Justice of the Peace.
I Abel Gage junior of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire on my oath depose and say that Abel Gage the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the Affidavit
Abel Gage Junr
State of New Hampshire County of Hillsborough ss. — April tenth 1837
Then the above named Abel Gage junior made solemn oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Before me, Sam d M. Richardson Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that Abel Gage junior the person who has taken and subscribed the above oath is entitled to full credit for truth and veracity —
Sam d M. Richardson, Justice of Peace.

I Andrew Wallace Clerk of the Superior Court of Judicature for the County of Hillsborough in the State of New-Hampshire, do hereby certify, that Samuel M. Richardson within named is a Justice of the Peace as within mentioned and that the within signatures, purporting to be his, are genuine -
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office, and subscribed my name, this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord 1837.
A. Wallace Clerk

December 18, 1939.
Anna J. Gage Graham Hospital Keokuk, Iowa.
BA-J/ILL Abel Gage S. 45548
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Abel Gage of Pelham, New Hampshire, who died in 1846 at the age of ninety-one years.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 45548, based upon service of Abel Gage in the Revolutionary War.
Abel Gage enlisted about March 1, 1776, served as private in Captain John Hale's company, Colonel John Stark's New Hampshire regiment, marched to New London, Connecticut, thence to Canada, was in the engagement at Sorrel and in the retreat to Ticonderoga, went afterwards to Mount Independence and continued until the last of December. Abel's brother, Asa Gage, of Pelham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, had enlisted in said Captain John Hale's New Hampshire company January 1, 1776 for one year, served however only two months, after which Abel took his place and completed that service.
Abel Gage was allowed pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War on his application executed May 15, 1818, at which time he resided in Pelham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. He gave his age then as sixty-two years, but did not state the date and place of his birth, nor the names of his parents.
In 1820, the soldier's family living at home consisted of the following members: his wife, aged sixty-six years; his daughters, Mehitable and Deborah, aged nearly thirty-two years and twenty-five years, respectively; and Abel, in his twenty-second year. The date of the soldier's marriage, and his wife's maiden name were not given, nor

the names of any other children. In 1837, Abel Gage lived with his son, Abel Gage, Junior, in Pelham, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire; he had moved there from Salem, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and furnish the following data:
Abel Gage Certificate #14850 Issued September 21, 1819 Rate $ 8 per month Commenced May 15, 1818 Act of March 18, 1818 New Hampshire Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

upper canyon goryan.

Enoch Howard testy that the above renamed served as a soldier in Col. Starks regiment from the first of March till the last of December 1776 during which time I was a soldier in said regiment and was then well acquainted with said Gage - Enoch Howard
May 15th. 1818. Personally appeared the abovenamed Enoch Howard and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit by him subscribed and I do certify that the said Howard is entitled to full credit
Samuel Bell Ass: Jus: Sup: cur: Jud: N: H:

Hon. John C. Calhoun Esq.
Secretary at war,
Washington

To the Hon. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, of the United States
Sir.
The undersigned Selectmen and overseers of the poor for the Town of Pittsboro, County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, having been informed that the claim of Deacon Abel Gage of this town, for a pension has been rejected on account of his "ability to support himself and family, and that his name has been stricken from the pension list; and believing that if his true situation was known, there would not be a doubt but he would be entitled to a pension, according to the true intent and meaning of the Law granting pensions to poor soldiers, would make a few statements of facts, from our own personal knowledge. of his situation.
He is now 66 years of age, and the age of his wife is about the same. - he has a daughter dependant on him for support, 38 years of age, whose health is very poor & who can do but little towards supporting herself. He has neither house nor lands, nor any means of supporting himself and family but his hands, and what he fails of procuring in this way, his friends are compelled to supply in charity. He has a small quantity of household furniture, which is barely sufficient for necessary purposes, & this we believe to be all he possesses.
We cannot say Sir that we feel no interest in his procuring a pension - we do feel an interest in behalf of the corporation, which is obliged by law to support all those who are unable to support themselves; and his receiving a pension from the general Government, will probably be the only means which will save this corporation from supporting this man & family.

This man Sir was not reduced to poverty by idleness nor intemperance, but by misfortune; and if the acts of the General Government was intended for the relief of those indigent soldiers, who fought the country's battles in the Revolutionary war, then surely the claim of Abel Gage is as strong as can well be conceived of.
We have the honor to be
With the highest consideration
your most obedient Servants
J. M. Richardson
Jesse Gibson
Selectmen & overseers of the poor for the town of Pethers

Write a letter to M. G. in the following words!—
Sir— you are hereby informed that on account of the ability of yourself and yourself & family to live with- out charitable aid, the Sec- retary of War has directed your name to be stricken from the Pension List.

no Real Estate.
Personal $72. 39.
66 yrs of age - wife 66.
Mehitabel - 32 - in poor health.
Deborah - 25. Healthy -
Abel - 22, and thinks he ought to have his own earnings!
The pensioner, has neither house, nor lands, nor any means of supporting himself & family but his hands, and what he fails of procuring in this way, his friends are compelled to supply in charity.
Hon. J. Butler
C. P. May 22, 1821
Reini Eads July 17, 1821 sent to Pensioner, Pelham.
Re

Apr 24
Mr. Brundine
James L. Edwards Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City, District of Columbia
Request of Mark Gage, that the payment of his pension may be transferred from Portsmouth N.H. to Concord, forwarded by Sam M. Richardson through the P. Office Pelham N.H.

Hon. Josiah Butler House of Reps. 4th Dist. Feb. 9. 1821
John C. Calhoun Secretary of War
For Record-keeping See letter 3. Feb. 1821

Longfellow Hall Feb 9 1821
Sir, The enclosed letter is from gentlemen, whom I have known from my infancy, and are very worthy & highly respectable. The applicant for a pension is also equally well known to me. He is a man of very fair character, & I believe, from my own knowledge of his circumstances, is as poor as represented. I think, I can say with perfect confidence, that he is now really as indigent if not more so, than very many, who are already continued on the roll. You will therefore cause a further consideration of his claim. Respectfully your obedient Servant John C. Calhoun      Josiah Butler

Hon. J. Butler H.R.

Jonathan Colley Jonathan Currie For remainder - Thomas Colley } Avo by Senior Brother
James Mc Gregor - wanted

20 May 2 PORTSMOUTH N.H.
FREE
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Portsmouth April 28 1837
Sir
Your letter of 24 inst is received. The Pension of Abel Gage has been paid at this agency to September 4 th 1836 — —
I am Sir very respectfully your obedient servant
James L Edwards Esq — Commissioner of Pensions Washington
Isaac Waldo

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Abel Gage Var. File 45548
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Feb. 1 1776 Last of Dec. 1776 Private John Hale John Stark N.H.                                     
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ✓
Date of application for pension, May 15 1818. His cl. was also
Residence at date of application, Pelham, Rockingham Co. N.H.
Age at date of application, 62 years
Remarks: In 1820 Soldier's wife was 66 years old, no name stated. Children: Mehitable 31 years, Deborah 24 years and Abel 21 years.
Had brother Asa.

Keokuk Iowa, 11-27 th Dept. of The Interior, Bureau of Pensions Washington D. C.
Have you any record that Able Gage of Pelham, N. H. drew a Pension for services in the Revolutionary War.
He served as a soldier in 1776. He died in 1846 at the age of 91.
Respectfully
Anna J. Gage Graham Hospital Keokuk Iowa

1-34-10-1-1111 m. 10.8 P.W.S. P.W.S.
Dec. 3, 1917.
To the Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir
Please send me the abstract of the Revolutionary service of Abel Gage of Pelham, N.H. First N.H. Regiment.
Yours truly
Ellen Isadore Gage
85 Waverly St, Providence, R.I.

Belt Providence R.I. November 18, 1901.
H. Clay Evans Esq., Commissioner of Pensions O W & N Division, Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I beg that you will favor me with a "Statement of the military history of Abel Gage a soldier of the Revolutionary War" who drew a pension.
His home in 1840 was at Pelham, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
Such information as you may give me will be greatly appreciated by,
Yours very truly,
E. Merle Bixby 137 Mattawson St.

9257 20 ✓ Pelham N.H. April 25, 1859
Hon H. Clay Evans: Com of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:--
My Grandfather Abel Gage a Revolutionary Soldier was granted a Pension: I would like a little history of it.
How long did he serve in the army? Was he simply a private?
In what Regiment did he serve? Why was he given a Pension?
How long did he receive it? If it was taken away, what was the reason, and why was it reissued?
Did the law specify any length of time a man must serve to draw a Pension?
If your Department is not the one to answer these questions, will you kindly send it to the proper office, or return it to me with the address of the proper officer.
Very respectfully yours,
Otis A. Gage,
Pelham,
N.H.

45 548
Rev
INVALID.
File No. 45-5-48
Abel Gage Pair Rev War
Act: 18 March 1818
Index: —Vol. 3 , Page 187
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Oct 5 '99
O A Gage.
Pelham N H
Dec. 16-1901
E. M'Gibby - Rev.
1908 Dec. 12 Hist. to
Arthur E. Gage (Letter in bid. File 16019)
1917 Dec. 10 Hist. to Ellen L. Gage.
1939 Dec. 18. Hist. to Anna J. Gage. J.L.L.